Childhood Stress Can Permanently Affect Your DNA.

A recent study done at Tulane University School of Medicine has shown that mental stress during childhood leads to permanent change to telomeres. Telomeres are the part of your DNA responsible for protecting chromosomes from sticking together and being damaged leading to early cell death. The work has been published in the journal Pediatrics. Damaged or shortened telomeres have been associated with higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline and mental illness, among others.

 

How do people process stress?

 

The answer is: Your brain.

 

How does your brain communicate with the rest of your body down to a cellular, even genetic level?

 

The answer is: Your nerve system.

 

Does a poorly communicating nervous system deal with childhood stress properly?

 

Answer: NO.

 

Do Subluxations of the spine impact the nerve system in a negative way that compromises communication?

 

Answer: YES, by definition, subluxations or misalignments of the spine that cause nerve communication breakdown from the brain to the body. This negatively impacts the way the brain interprets the environment and how it then controls, regulates and heals your body.

 

Does chiropractic improve brain-nerve-body-cell communication by removing irritation to nerves, thereby improving one’s childhood stress response?

 

Answer: YES.

 

 

Do children under mental childhood stress interpret their environment, process the stress and have a reaction at the level of their DNA based on that interpretation?

 

Answer: Yes, based on the recent cited in this post.

 

Is it possible that chiropractic may help protect a childs DNA by improving the way children deal with childhood stress?

 

Answer: YES.

 

Brushing your children’s teeth, organic food, great school systems, a clean smoke free environment and regular chiropractic care to optimize nerve function and adaptability to one’s environment are all things you can do to invest in your children’s future.

 

**Dr. Lou is trained in pediatric chiropractic by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and practices in Portland, Maine and is awaiting licensure in Romania.  He plans on opening a temporary clinic in Bucuresti (Bucharest), Romania in September-October 2014.